Capturing Vulnerable Communities: Ethical and Compassionate Photography for Journalists
In an era where visual storytelling holds immense power, journalists have a responsibility to represent vulnerable communities with sensitivity, ethics, and compassion. The images they capture should prioritize honest and accurate representation—especially when dealing with marginalized communities—without inflicting any potential harm or exploiting those populations.
Journalists must consider the legal context and potential risks to the safety of their subjects when working with vulnerable communities. Understanding local laws and the consequences of exposing identities is crucial. For example, in Uganda, where identifying as LGBTQ+ is illegal, publishing photographs that reveal LGBTQ+ individuals' identities can put their lives at risk and so anonymity is a top priority.
“Even if there are people who are ready to take any risk to fight for their freedom, it is important to keep in mind that even if a story is published in a foreign language, it does not mean that people in Uganda will not be able to access [it]. I always advise anonymous pictures [that conceal the subject’s identity],” said Sofi Lundin, a Uganda-based journalist.
Building trust and transparency with the community is essential. For example, photojournalist Luke Dray was able to safely photograph an LGBTQ+ community in Uganda by establishing an expectation of safety.
“I introduced myself to everyone in the safe house and told them why I was there. I showed them my previous work with marginalized communities and people under threat from state actors,” he said. “I also let them see the pictures as I continued [shooting] throughout the day, to demonstrate how I was using light and composition to conceal their identity. Their safety was my utmost priority.” By giving a modicum of control to the community, he was able to both mitigate risk and build trust.
Recognizing power dynamics between the photographer and the subjects is crucial, as Dray demonstrated. Journalists must acknowledge their position of power and actively work to empower those they photograph.
“When working with vulnerable communities, establishing a foundation of trust, comfort and consent in the first place is key to make sure that people feel empowered throughout the process,” said Luis Tato, of the Agence France-Presse. “I prioritize engaging with community members by initiating a dialogue and conversing with them as much as possible before starting to take photos. This helps me clearly explain my intentions and the purpose of the photographs, as well as to understand their concerns and perspectives. I also make sure to listen to their opinions and suggestions and respect their boundaries and choices. This includes giving them the agency to decide what is appropriate to be photographed.”
Photographic production influences the stories we tell—and these communities deserve to have a role in selecting how they would like to be portrayed. Something as simple as a camera angle can completely change the narrative of the image. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, several images were found to be taken with telephoto lenses, which collapses hundreds of feet of depth into a small amount of space. Backlash grew for the subjects in these images, as the public was tricked into thinking those individuals were violating social distancing laws and endangering others. When reviewing the content you’re about to publish, the International Journalists Network recommends vetting your own content with two very simple questions: “Would I be happy to see myself or members of my family depicted in this way?” and “Is this the only story I can tell?”
From there, you must provide context through well-written, informative captions to ensure viewers understand the story accurately. This process mirrors the journalistic process: being curious, gathering information, and engaging in direct communication with subjects will inform the accuracy of your captions. Including quotes and details collected in the field enhances the captions' credibility, so keeping voice memos, asking for written statements, and gathering a glut of information will help you to give this storytelling the justice it needs.
Finally, compassion and self-awareness should guide visual documentation. Journalists must strive to create empathy and relatability to their subjects rather than dehumanizing or stereotyping them. In order to be the most successful at this, journalists must become aware of their own personal biases. In being vigilant, journalists can then pare down their work to create the best representation of both themselves and marginalized communities and ultimately will be able to affect a modicum of change through their thorough journalistic process.
